Venkatachalapathi Karungulam

Venkatachalapathi, Karungulam

Vaishnavite Temples - Thoothukudi

God

Venkatachalapathi, facing east

Goddess

Padmavathi Thaayar, facing east

Other Deities

Garudan, Srinivasa Perumal, Ramanujar, Vishwaksenar, Venugopala

Venkatachalapathi Karungulam is a beautiful temple located on a small hill called Vagulagiri. Vehicles can go to the top and there is a pathway with steps from the east side of the hill. The temple is beautifully maintained and has 2 Prakarams, one outside the compound wall and another inside. Both main deity and Goddess are in separate shrines. The main deity here is unique in the form of two sandalwood logs, erected alongside and decorated as Venkatesa Perumal. The Tamarind tree here does not yield fruit and the leaves do not close at dusk. There is a Well here that never dries up. The Tamiraparani River runs in the east. There are an old Shiva and a Nava Durga temples below the hill.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Well

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Uranga Puli Maram (Tamarind – Tamarindus indica)

History

Venkatachalapathi Karungulam is an ancient temple. Historical information is not available as of now.

Legend

In the olden days, there was a King called Subakandan who was afflicted with night blindness. He went to Tirupati and worshiped the Lord. The lord appeared in his dream and asked him to create a temple car with sandalwood for him. He also said that two pieces of wood will be leftover and the king should take it south and install them in between a Srinivasa Idol and Tamarind Tree on a hill. He found the hill, installed the sandalwood pieces as directed, and built up the temple. The name Vagulagiri is said to come from the Vagula flowers (Magizham – Mimusops elengi) found in the hill.

Directions

Venkatachalapathi Karungulam is about 13 kilometers southeast of Tirunelveli in the Tiruchendur Road.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest is Tirunelveli.

Vaishnavite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples